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Does anyone know anything about Phillip Donatelli, Mr. Torchinsky's teacher at Curtis and former tubist with the Philadelphia Orchestra? What was his background? Where and with whom did he study? Any photos would also be appreciated.

I am just curious.

Thank you.

I believe there is a photo or two posted here on Tubenet somewhere. (Check archives). His photo is also posted a place or two on the Internet... holding a Conn tuba. You might do a Google search. I believe his first name was spelled with one "l", as in Philip. Hope that helps.

Here's a photo:

doesn't seem to be much else on the net. You might try communicating with someone at Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.
Pete
ps I also studied with Mr Torchinsky from abt 1967 -1972. The 1st horn I ever bought was a Meinl-Weston and it was delivered bu Mr. Bell while I was at "Torchy's" house for a lesson.
pwp

Thank you both for the information.

Stephen Shoop wrote:I also studied with Mr Torchinsky from abt 1967 -1972. The 1st horn I ever bought was a Meinl-Weston and it was delivered bu Mr. Bell while I was at "Torchy's" house for a lesson.

Meeting Mr. Bell at Mr. Tochinsky's house must have been a real thrill. They were two of the greatest.

I took about 10 lessons from Mr. Torchinsky late in my playing life. I was about 52 and he was in his late 70's and living in Plymouth Meeting, PA. I heard him on all of the Ormandy recordings when I was growing up(?). He was was a great teacher with a wealth of experience and a fine gentleman. I am sorry that I never knew Bill Bell.

Without any disrespect intended for anyone, it might be safe to conjecture that Mr. Donatelli was a self-taught GREAT player...and never auditioned for a job!

May not be the same Philip Donatelli, and there's not much info, but the mention of playing tuba and the proximity of Ardmore to Philly is at least suggestive: http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.don ... 28/mb.ashx" target="_blank" target="_blank

Thanks for the interesting lead. Donatelli seems to be quite the mystery man.

ppalan wrote:Here's a photo:

doesn't seem to be much else on the net. You might try communicating with someone at Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.
Pete
ps I also studied with Mr Torchinsky from abt 1967 -1972. The 1st horn I ever bought was a Meinl-Weston and it was delivered bu Mr. Bell while I was at "Torchy's" house for a lesson.
pwp

Is that the CSO York?

k001k47 wrote:

ppalan wrote:Here's a photo:

doesn't seem to be much else on the net. You might try communicating with someone at Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.
Pete
ps I also studied with Mr Torchinsky from abt 1967 -1972. The 1st horn I ever bought was a Meinl-Weston and it was delivered bu Mr. Bell while I was at "Torchy's" house for a lesson.
pwp

Is that the CSO York?

It is.

If memory serves (and I'm certain it's been discussed on here before), Donatelli was Arnold Jacobs teacher at Curtis. The York (one or both of them) was originally made for and/or purchased by Donatelli, who decided against them (ergonomic reasons, I think) and either gave or sold one to Jake. Not long after, Jake was offered Donatelli's job with the Philadelphia Orchestra, but turned it down out of respect for his teacher, spawning the string of positions he would hold at various orchestras, largely following Reiner around to different orchestras (including Pittsburgh) until finally settling in Chicago. All of this is from the "Song and Wind" book on the life of Arnold Jacobs, which I haven't read in several years, so if anyone would like to correct me please be my guest.

Another item of note, I remember there being a "Donatelli" model piston CC for sale on this forum a few years ago; if memory serves (again), it was made by Conn. Presumably this would have been made for him after he turned down the Yorks.

Again, please correct me if any of this information is incorrect.

The last poster is correct. Donatelli did sell the York to Jacobs because when he would take a breath, his girth would push the horn away from his face.

Doc wrote:Are there any recordings of Donatelli one can acquire or hear on the internet?

Hey Doc,

When I worked in Public Radio there was set of recordings available called the "The Philadelphia Sound" that featured the Philadelphia Orchestra in various recordings, the earliest mostly taken from Radio Broadcasts. I seem to remember that Stowkowski conducted his setting of the "Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor" by Bach. It would have been done when Donatelli was there. I honestly don't remember much about it other than the horns were horrendously out of tune(and that is a compliment on a good day) making it unusable for broadcast. A quick check of the major retailers have turned up nothing. If you are around San Antonio, give my good friend John Clare a shout at the TPR Station there. He is the one stop shopping guru for stuff like this and even may have an idea where to get the set. Cheers.

Chuck

Info on Donatelli with pic from this Philly Orch website-FYI... Mark

http://www.stokowski.org/Philadelphia_O ... s_List.htm" target="_blank